Forgetting about the ridiculous Jonas Valanciunas situation for a second, the Nuggets’ two main objectives should be finding another ballhandler for a minimum to come off the bench, and doing everything in their power to keep Nikola Jokic happy in Denver.
Well now, thanks to a fairly innocuous sequence of transactions, the Nuggets can accomplish both of those goals by signing new free agent, Vasilije Micic. The 31-year-old Serbian is friends with Jokic and teammates on their national team. Micic is a great passer and has a great mind for the game, which allows him to create magic with the Joker whenever they share the floor.
He dominated the EuroLeague for years, winning the league’s MVP Award in 2021 and winning back-to-back titles and Final Four MVP Awards in 2021 and 2022. He finally came over to the NBA in 2023, but struggled to carve out a consistent role on an extremely deep Thunder team before being traded to the Hornets in the Gordon Hayward deal last season.
But the Hornets weren’t competing, and Micic made little sense on their young roster. On draft night, he was dealt again, this time to the Suns in the deal that brought Mark Williams to Phoenix. Days later, Micic was flipped again, this time to the Bucks, and on Monday, Milwaukee and Micic agreed to a buyout, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Just In: The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a buyout with guard Vasilije Micić, league sources told @hoopshype. pic.twitter.com/PvKJrcVJOs
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 7, 2025
Micic could vie for backup point guard job with Nuggets
Now, the Nuggets, who already need a backup point guard, can sign Micic to a minimum deal and finally bring Jokic’s buddy to Denver. Micic would bring steady ballhandling and playmaking with some decent shooting ability as well. He’s not the best athlete, but he’s crafty and uses his body to his advantage.
Micic could capably run the second unit and could take on a bigger offensive role whenever Jamal Murray or Jokic is out. He would also be able to play alongside Jokic when other starters rest, and the two could bring their chemistry to another level.
It’s hard to say whether or not Micic would be a meaningful upgrade on Jalen Pickett, but it would at least add another option for David Adelman. Pickett is still up and down and wasn’t always trusted in big spots. That certainly won’t be an issue with Micic, a steady veteran hand who has been in some massive games during his career.
This move is a no-brainer as he plays a position of need, won’t cost more than a minimum, and is friends with Jokic. This likely won’t be the move that pushes the Nuggets over the hump and wins them a title, but it would be a helpful addition who can give you reliable regular season minutes, and may help convince the most important player in franchise history to spend the rest of his career in Denver.